Car of the Future

Blowing the wheels off conventional automotive design

Car of the Future engineers with MSU President, Dr. Mark
Keenum

For years, MSU’s Center for Advanced
Vehicular Systems has been a driving force in the growth and maturity of the U.S. automotive
industry. We’ve pioneered the use of high-performance materials to design cars that offer a
premium driving experience, while maximizing travel distance by utilizing multiple sources of
energy.

Today, MSU researchers are developing the Car of the
Future®, a greener hybrid that’s
leading
the way to energy independence. No other car on the market offers its combined package of
superior efficiency, sporty handling, outstanding performance and technological features.

That’s what
Mississippi State
is
all about – creating
opportunities for students and faculty to dream big and uncover innovative solutions for real-world
problems and situations. The work accomplished today helps ensure a brighter tomorrow for the
automotive industry and for all of us.

- Matt Doude

CAVS Associate Director, Corporate Engagement

The purpose of the project is to demonstrate how
improved energy
systems can make
vehicles
more affordable and efficient. MSU's team is working to expand involvement with auto manufacturers,
providing increased educational opportunities for new students through more projects.

The design team’s game-changing innovations in
automotive design
have resulted in the
development of
futuristic frames that are nearly half the weight of those used in conventional automobiles. Student and
faculty researchers and engineers have also collaborated to build hybrid systems that can run 100 miles on
the equivalent of a single gallon of gas.

At the same time, the team is applying academic
expertise to solve
industrial research
and development
challenges. Students are enhancing safety and human performance by writing recognition programs that
predict driving patterns and can activate automated braking systems and other advanced safety measures.

Mississippi State students are anticipating
and adapting to the needs
of an evolving
automotive industry. Our engineering design teams are trained to recognize the market’s directional
changes and
innovate advanced systems for the future of transportation.

- Matt Doude

The team’s work is even steering the way electric
motors could be arranged in the engines of future hybrid vehicles. MSU prototypes don't connect engines
to wheels, as in traditional designs. Instead, the car uses engine-driven generators to power electric
motors that propel the wheels. The design also uses much smaller, lighter-weight batteries.

Inspiration for the advanced hybrid originated
from the visionary genius of alumnus James Worth "Jim" Bagley, the namesake of MSU’s College of
Engineering, who challenged the design team to create a vehicle for a future of limited fuel resources.

MSU’s Car of the Future® gained the attention of the
Environmental Protection Agency and also was
showcased in Detroit, Michigan, where the team was recognized as the best talent in the automotive
industry.